Absignoe



J. M. MILLER.

LIQUID STORAGE AND DELIVERY APPARATUSJ APPLICATION FILED IAN-9.1918.

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APPLICATION FILED IAN. 9, I918- Patented June 24, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- DISCHARGE.

x. M. MILLER. LIQUID STORAGE AND DELIVERY APPARATUS APPLICATION FILED JAN. 9.,I9H1.

Patented J 11110 24, i919.

a SHEETSSHEET 3.-

FIEJS,

INVENTOR WITNESSES Ill UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN M. MILLER, OF SEWICKLEY, PENNSYLVANIA, ABSIGNOR TO HEPBURN WALKER,-

OF SEWICKLEY, PENNSYLVANIA.

LIQUID STORAGE AND'DELIVERY .API PAR-ATUS.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN M. MILLER, re-

siding at Sewickley, in the county of Alle- My invention relates to apparatus for liquid storage and delivery systems of the general type wherein a liquid is stored in a reservoir and before being sold is caused to flow into a measuring tank from which all or any desired portion may be withdrawn,

the measuring tank being so constructed that the purchaser may see the amount of liquid sold to him.

While my invention is not limited to apparatus for vending any specific kind of liquid, it is particularly applicable to the vending of gasolone. and in the following description will be explained in its adaptability to such use.

The vending of gasolene by means of such apparatus is usually done at garages or servlce stations by employees. Vllile the measuring tank, constructed as explained, protects the purchaser against short or fraudulent measure of the gasolene; in the forms of apparatus heretofore used, no adequate means is provided to protect the proprietor against an employee making sales of galo-' lene and withholding the purchase money from the proprietor.

The object of my invention is primarily to provide, for a liquid storage and delivery system, apparatus which will prevent the defrauding of a proprietor'by an employee. A

further object is to provide apparatus of the,

character described which will be simple in construction, and which may be easily and quickly operated.

In the accompanying sheets of drawings which'form part of my specifiation, I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of my Figure 1 represents diagrammatially a vertical sectional view of the vending apparatus, Fig. 2 is. a diagrammatic view of a compound valve; Fig. 3 a vertical sectional vi ow. to enlarged scale of the central portion of the apparatus of Fig. 1, such ap- Specificatioii of Letters Patent.

Patented June 24, 1919.

Application filed January 9, 1918. Serial No. 211,038.

paratus being here shown in detail. Figs. 4 and 5 are horizontal sectional views to enlarged-scales taken on the lines IVIV and V-V, respectively, Fig. 3, Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the interior of the casing of the apparatus, the plane of view being indicated by the broken line,VI-VI, Fig. 5; Fig. 7 a perspective view of a detail of construction to which reference is madehereinafter.

In vending apparatus of the character contemplated herein, the gasoleneis usually caused to flow from the storage reservoir to the measuring tank, either by means of air pressure applied to the gasolene in the storage reservoir, or by means of a vacuum formed in the measuring tank or in a conduit leading thereto. While my invention is applicable both to vacuum and pressure types of apparatus, I have illustrated it in its adaptability to a vacuum type.

Referring first to Fig. 1, a storage reservoir 1. is connected by means of conduits 3 and 3*to a measuring tank 4, communication between such conduits being controlled by a valve 5, which may be of any suitable construction, but which is preferably rotatable upon a vertical axis. The measuring tank 4 may be made of glass or otherwise constructed to the end that the level of gasolene therein may be observed from its exterior. Within the-measuring tank there is a vertically adjustable discharge pipe which may be formed of telescoping sections 6 and 7. Both sections of this pipe are mounted for simultaneous rotation on their vertical axes and the lower end section 7 is attached to the valve 5 for controlling its operation. A de livery conduit 8 extends from the valve 5, and is, by the rotation of such valve, adapted to be placed in communication with the discharge pipe 6, 7. Also for a purpose explained hereinafter, an overflow and return conduit 39 extends from the valve 5 to the conduit 2.

The generating of a vacuum in the measuring tank 4, for the purpose of causing .gasolene to flow from the reservoir 1 into plish the aforestated ends will be presently the top of the measuring tank 4 to such valve, and a vacuum conduit 10 leads from the valve to a suitable air ,pump 55. The construction of the valve 5 for controlling the gasolene and vacuum conduits to accom explained with reference to Fig. 2.

While the apparatus, as thus far explained, involves features of construction which are of substantial advantage," a further feature of my invention has to do with registering the volume of gasolene position a known volume of gasolene, for example, five gallons, will fill the tank to the plane of the top of such pipe section.

Referring more particularly to the draw- 1 ings, which illustrate the preferred embodiment of this feature of my invention, the upper end of the valve 5 has attached thereto a casing 11 provided with oppositely disposed vertical slots 12 and 13. Through Y the slot 12 there extends a handle 14, which is attached to the lower end ofthe pipe section 6 for raising and lowering it. Between the casing 11 and the dischargepipe 6, 7 there is suspended from a transverse partition 15 a sleeve 16, which, as shown in Fig.

v 7, is provided with a plurality of horizontally disposed stop faces 17 progressively offset from each other, and so spaced to determine a unit volume, for example one gallon, of gasolene contained within the measing tank 4. The upper end of the casing 11 isprovided. with a collar 18, on the periphcry of which there are formed a plurality of notches or detents 19 adapted to receive the lower side of a handle 20 pivotally attached to the upper end of the sleeve 16. Normally,

the handle 20 engages the lowermost detent 19, as viewed in Fig. 5. To adjust the vertical position of the stop sleeve 16, the partition 15 is, by means of bolts 75, adjustably suspended from the bottom 7 6 of the measuring tank, it being understood that the partition 15 forms a support for the sleeve 16.

Whenit is desired to discharge two gallons of gasolene from the tank 4., the handle 20 may be lifted and turned until it'is in a position to rest in the notch 19. This turning of the handle also turns the sleeve 16 so that, in this instance, the stop face 17 is beneath the handle 14:. Thus when such handle, and in consequence thereof the pipe section 6, is moved downwardly, the handle will rest upon the stop face 17, and in this position of the pipe section 6 two gallons of gasolene may flow from the tank 4 through such section.

On the opposite side of the collar 18 from thedetents 19, there is attached a lock in the form of a spring-pressed latch 21 adapted to engage a stop 22 (Fig. 6) formed on the inner face ofthe outer casing 23 of the a pparatus. The stop 22 is in such position that, when engaged by the latch 21, the turning of the valve 5 to a position affording communication between the pipe 6, 7 and delivery conduit 8, may not beefi'ected. To release the latch 21 so that the valve 5 may be turned to control such communication, an arm 24, secured to the lower end of pipe section 6, extends through slot 13 of casing 11, and is provided with a tripping member 25 adapted, when the pipe section 6 has been raised to its uppermost position, to engage a downwardly extending finger 26 of the latch 21. To maintain the pipe section 6 in its uppermost position during its rotation subsequent to the release of the latch 21, ahorizontally disposed groove 27 is formed on the inner face of the casing 23 between two segmental bars 28 and 29. With respect to the foregoing construction, it will be understood that the handle 14, arm 24, casing 11, valve- 5, latch 21 and stop sleeve 16 constitute a single operating unit rotatable upon a vertical axis by the turning of the handle 14.

The registering mechanism may be of any desired type. As shown herein, it is inclosed within a casing 30, and is adapted to be driven by a shaft 31, to which there is secured a pinion 32 meshing with a pinion 33 secured to a shaft 34, to which shaft there is attached a sprocket 35. At the upper end of the casing there is provided a second sprocket 36, and around these two sprockets is a chain 37 adapted to be engaged by a finger 38 secured to the arm 24. When the arm 24 is in the position indicated in Fig. 6, it is beyond the right end of the bar 29 and may be moved downwardly. Also, in this position of the arm, the valve 5 is in a position affording communication between the pipe 6, 7, and the delivery conduit 8. By lowering the handle 14 in a vertical plane the indicator mechanism is advanced in proportion to the-extent of such lowering, and thus registers the volume of gasolene delivered. After the desired volume of gasolene has been delivered, the handle 14 may be turned in the opposite direction to cause the valve 5 to place the discharge pipe 6, 7, in communication with conduit 39, so that the gasolene remaining in the tank 4 may be returned to the reservoir 1. When turned to this position, however, the finger 38 is beyond the range of engagement of chain 37, and the latch 21 is beyond the end of the stop 22, so that the valve 5 may not again To control the flow of gasolene for carryingv out the above described operations, as well as for controlling the generation of a vacuum in tank 4, the valve 5 is arranged to turn through an arc of approximately 90, and in so turning there are four different operative positions which may be designated as neutral, filling, overflow and return, and discharge positions. These positions are indicated in Fig. 5 by such terms.

In neutral position, flow through all the various conduits is shut oif.

In filling position, the vacuum conduits 9 and 10 are placed in communicationwith .each other so that a vacuum is generated in atmospheric pressure, and the pipe 6, 7 is placed in communication with the conduit 39, so that the gasolene in the tank 4 above the level of the upper end of thepipe section 6 may flow through such' pipe and be returned to the reservoir 1.

In discharging position, the pipe 6, 7 is placed in communication with the delivery conduit 8, so that gasolene may be delivered to a customer, and the conduit 9 is placed in communication with a vent conduit 40.

With theforegoing synopsis of theoperation of the valve, itsdetailed construction may be readily understood from the diagrammatic representation thereof. It will be understood, however, that in actual prac ties the ports of the valve may be somewhat differently constructed than indicated in primarily for purposes of facilitating an understanding of t'he operation of the valve.

For controlling the flow of gasolene, the valve casing 41 is provided with alport 42 in communication with theconduit 2 leading from the reservoir 1; with a port 43 in communication with the conduit 3 leading to the tank 4;.Wltl'l a port 44 in communication with the conduit 39; and with a port 45 in communication with the delivery conduit 8. For controlling the vacuum and vent conduits, the valve casing 41 is provided'with a port in communication with the conduit 10 leading to the vacuum pump 55; with a port 46 in communication with conduit 9 leading from the tank 4; and with a port 47 in communication with the vent conduit 40.

Cooperating with the gasolene ports of the valve casing, the valve 5 is provided with a radially disposed port 48 communicating with the lower. end of pipe section 7, and

with a peripherally disposed port 49 adapted to afl'ord communication between the valve casing ports 42 and 43. Coiiperating with the vacuum and vent pol'ts'of the valve casing 41, the periphery of valve 5 is provided with a vertically disposed port 50.

For convenience of illustration, thefilling position of valve 5- is shown in Fig. 2. In such position itwill be seen that the tank 4 is, through conduit 9, casing port 46,. valve port 50, casing port 60, conduit 10, placed in communication with thevacuum pump 55. It will also be seen that communication between the reservoir 1 and tank 4 is effected through conduit 2, casing port 42, valve port 49, casing port 43 and conduit 3.

From the foregoing description of the filling position of the valve it will readily be 'to reservoir 1; and the measuring tank is,

through conduit 9, casing port 46, valve port 50, casing port 47, and conduit 40, open to attmospheric pressure.

In discharge position, gasolene may flow through discharge pipe 6, 7, valve port 48, casing port 45, to discharge conduit 8; and the measuring tank remains in communication with the atmosphere in the manner explained in the preceding paragraph.

. In case the full five gallons of gas olene is not discharged from the measuring tank 4, the remainder may be returned to the reservoir 1 by turning the valve backwardly to the overflow and return position, the line of flow then being the same as already explained. g

It will of course be understood that, normally, the handle 14 will be in neutral position. In the normal and intended operation .of the apparatus,'the handle 14, and in consequence thereof the pipe section 6, is first raised to its uppermost position, which is determined by the portion ofthe bar 28 that projects to the left of the bar 29, as viewed in Fig. 6. The handle '14 is then turned to the filling position indicated in Fig. 5, and in such position the outer end of the arm 24 lies in the groove between the bars 28 and 291 With the valve in filling position, the tank 4 will be filled in the manner explained in connectioniwith the description of valve 5. To bring the gasolene in tank 4 to the proper measuring level, namely, that of the plane of the top of pipe section 6, the handle 14 is turned to the overflow and return position so that the excess volume of gasolene taken into tank 4 may flow through dis-' charge pipe 6, 7 and conduits 39 and 2 to reservoir 1.

At this stage of the operation, the stop sleeve 16 may, by lifting the'handle 20, be turned to the required position for determin ing the extent of downward movement of the pipe section 6, so that a predetermined volume of gasolene may be withdrawn. In

. the next step of the operation, the handle 14 is turned to the discharge position, in which gasol'ene may flow through pipes 6, 7 to the delivery conduit 8. In this position of the valve 5 the finger 38 engages the chain 37 so that the downward movement of the handle 14, in the required vertical plane to cause the valve 5 to maintain communication between the measuring tank and delivery conduit, will be effective to advance the registering device to indicate the number of gallons discharged. When the required volume of gaso-' lene has been thus discharged,-the handle 14 I may be returned to overflow and return position, and then moved downwardly to the end of its'vertical line of travel. When moved to overflow and return position. the finger 3S is disengaged from the chain 37 so that the further downward movement of the handle 14 in pipe section 6 does not advance the registering devlce.

- It will be observed of the apparatus which I have provided, that it is impossible for an operator thereof to cause any gasolene to flow through the delivery conduit, the volume of which is not registered by the registering device.

1. In a liquid vending apparatus, the combination of a storage reservoir, a measuring tank,'a rotatable vertic'ally adjustable discharge pipe in'said tank, a valve connected to said pipe, a delivery conduit connected to said valve, and a return conduit connecting said valve with said reservoir, said valve bein operable by the rotation of said pipe and eing adapted to place said tank in communication with said delivery or return conduits.

2. In a liquid vending apparatus, the combination of a storage reservoir, a measuring tank, a rotatable vertically adjustable dis charge pipe in said tank, a valve connected to and operable by the rotation of said pipe, filling conduits connecting said valve with said reservoir and tank, and a delivery conduit leading from said valve, the rotation of said valve being effective to control the flow of liquid first through said filling conduit and thereafter through said discharge pipe and delivery conduit.

3. In a liquid vending apparatus, the combination of a measuring tank, rotatable vertically adjustable discharge pipe in said tank, a valve connected to and operable by the rotation of said pipe and controlling flow therethrough, a delivery conduit leading from said valve, and a registering device operable by the downward movement of said pipe when turned to a position to open said valve to permit flow through said pipe and delivery conduit.

4. In a liquid vending apparatus, the combination of a measuring tank, a rotatable vertically adjustable discharge pipe in said tank, a valve connected to and operable by the rotation of said pipe and controlling flow therethrough, a delivery conduit leading from said valve, a registering deviceoperable by the downward movement of said pipe when turned to a position to open said valve to permit flow through said pipe and delivery' conduit, and means for locking said pipe against rotation to register operating position in all except one vertical position thereof.

5. In a liquid vending apparatus, the combination of a measuring tank, a rotatable vertically adjustable discharge pipe in said tank. a valve connected to and operable by the rotation of said pipe and controlling flow theretln'ongh, a delivery conduit leading from said-valve, a registering device operable by the downward movement of said pipe when turned to a plosition to permit flow through said pipe and delivery conduit, 'a .lock for holding said pipe against rotation to register-operating posi- .tion, and means operable only when said pipe is in its uppermost vertical position for releasing said lock.

6. In a liquid vending apparatus, the combination of a measuring tank, a rotatable vertically adjustable discharge pipe in said tank, a valve connected to and operable by the rotation of said pipe and controlling flow therethrough, a delivery conduitleading from said valve, a registering device operable by the downward movement of said pipe when turned to a position to permit fiow through said pipe and delivery conduit, a lock for holding said pipe againstrotation to register-operating position, and means operable only when said pipe is in its upper- V In testimony whereof I have hereunto set most vertical position for releasing said lock, my hand.

J OHN M. MILLER.

said lock becoming eifective for its intended a purpose when said pipe is turned to a posi- Witnesses: v

5 tion to render inoperative said registering PAUL N. CRITGHLOW, device. FRANK J. TOMASSON. 

